Château hill, Nice's green lung

The origins of this park date back to a time when the city of Nice, as we know it today, closely resembled the rock of Monaco. On the hill, the city called Nikaïa by the Phocaean Greeks was home to a fortified post around a millennium BC. In the Middle Ages, a veritable fortress was built to protect it from attack.

The castle and citadel, renovated several times, were destroyed by order of Louis XIV in 1706. Since then, the site has been redeveloped, but some vestiges of the past remain intact.

When you're in Nice, it's well worth spending a few hours on the Château hill. Reaching a height of 90 m, it is ideally situated between the sea and the old town. As you stroll through this 19-hectare park, the landscapes change but never resemble each other. Tree-lined paths and stairways provide access to treasures such as Roman arcades, mosaics, the ruins of the medieval castle and the artificial waterfall.

Inspired by the architecture of the romantic gardens of the 19th century, the waterfall on the hill has its source in the Vésubie river. Unfortunately, it's not always active: to see the waterfalls slide over the rocks, it's best to leave it until winter. The archaeological ruins along the way are not to be missed, and include the castle, the ancient bastions and Sainte-Marie de Nice cathedral.

Explanatory panels with reconstructed photos of these buildings give an idea of the former landscape. Halfway down the hill, the Bellanda Tower overlooks the city, its terrace offering a panoramic view of the Baie des Anges. Inside, there's a museum where you can find out more about this historic site and Nice in general. Open from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, but only on Saturdays... so unfortunately it's not often open, so think about it for your programme!

Last but not least, the tree-lined park has a garden for children, a bar and a snack bar to make the moment a little longer and enjoy the view.

The scenery varies along the way. As soon as you get out of the lift, the panorama extends over part of the old town, the Promenade des Anglais and the Mediterranean before becoming more complete from the hill of the Château, the highest point. To the west, the view is unobstructed, with the port of Lympia, its luxury yachts and the mountains in the background.

If you're not afraid of cemeteries, you'll love the Château de Nice cemetery! Considered to be one of the most beautiful in France, the funerary monuments that take pride of place in the alleys are of remarkable architecture. The view is panoramic, and it's easy to see why some of Nice's most famous figures, including Léon Gambetta, decided tospend eternity here.

The calm that reigns here is in stark contrast to the view over Old Nice and the hustle and bustle it represents, particularly with the daily market on the Cours Saleya.

The Château hill is located at the end of the Promenade des Anglais. A lift takes tourists up to 90 metres above sea level. To take it, go to rue des Ponchettes, near the Quai des Etats-Unis. For the more courageous, you can take the Lesage staircase at the same point.

Accessible by car, the Château hill can be reached by taking the montée Eberlé, then parking at the allée des Justes or allée François Aragon car parks.

The lift leading up to the top of the hill is an old sixteenth-century well, known as the"Devil's Well".

In the 19th century, a cannon shot was fired from the hill every day at noon. The aim was to inform officer Sir Thomas Coventry of lunchtime. Today, the tradition is carried on by local pyrotechnicians, still at the same time but without the cannon!